Recent News
Lay intuition as effective at jailbreaking AI chatbots as technical methods
Intuitive questions asked by everyday internet users are just as effective at triggering biased responses from artificial intelligence chatbots as advanced technical inquiries, according to a team led by researchers at Penn State.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month Q&A: Why pay attention to cybersecurity?
In this Q&A, faculty members from the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology discussed what cybersecurity is, how it's evolving and what the average person can do to secure their data.
Informatics doctoral program provides interdisciplinary opportunities for graduates
Three recent graduates of the informatics doctoral program at the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology demonstrate how the program's interdisciplinary nature prepares them for a range of post-graduate pursuits.
Q&A: IST faculty named digital cultures fellow at the University of Queensland
Kelley Cotter, assistant professor in the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology, was awarded the Tom O’Regan Visiting Fellowship by the University of Queensland. In this Q&A, she discussed the honor and her work.
Interactive apps, AI chatbots promote playfulness, reduce privacy concerns
The more interactive a mobile app or AI chatbot is, the more playful it seems to users, who lower their vigilance toward privacy risks, according to a team led by researchers at Penn State.
Media Mention: "AI fuels false claims after Charlie Kirk's death, CBS News analysis reveals"
In a recent CBS News article examining the spread of misinformation following the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, experts highlight how AI tools are fueling false narratives online. S. Shyam Sundar, director of the Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence at Penn State, weighs in on the dangers of relying on generative AI during fast-moving news events. Sundar explains that these systems don’t verify facts—they simply predict what content is most likely to appear based on existing online patterns, which can amplify speculation and falsehoods. As AI becomes more integrated into the way we consume and share information, Sundar raises critical questions: Can we trust AI to deliver the truth? And what happens when we mistake machine-generated content for objective fact?
Center for Socially Responsible AI invites 2026 seed funding proposals
Penn State’s Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence invites short proposals for its annual seed funding program. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 1, with projects expected to start in spring 2026 and last up to two years.
IST announces Research Talks series for fall 2025 semester
The College of Information Sciences and Technology announced IST Research Talks, a series of lectures that highlight the interdisciplinary work of Penn State faculty and scholars. The first set of talks, featuring IST professors James Wang and Sharon Huang, is scheduled for 12:05–1:15 p.m. on Sept. 11 in E202 Westgate Building at University Park.
Sibling and friend game time key to keeping children safe in online video games
Older siblings and friends who play video games can help parents keep their children safe on online gaming platforms like Roblox and Minecraft, according to new research led by Penn State.
University Libraries to host August speakers on AI, the Data Rescue Project
Penn State University Libraries will sponsor two speakers on open scholarship topics in conjunction with the second Penn State Open Scholarship Boot Camp, set for Aug. 13-15 on the University Park campus. Both presentations are free and open to the public.
Distinguished professor and human-computer interaction expert retires
The Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology has announced the retirement of Distinguished Professor John M. “Jack” Carroll, effective June 30.
IST faculty discuss future of AI on WPSU's 'Conversations Live'
Hadi Hosseini and Amulya Yadav, associate professors in the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology, discussed the future of artificial intelligence on the May 15 episode of WPSU's "Conversations Live."
Competition shows not all exam questions can be correctly answered using AI
Penn State’s Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence announced the winners of its first-ever "Cheat-a-thon," a virtual competition that invited faculty and students at universities across the U.S. to test the capabilities and limitations of using generative artificial intelligence to answer college-level questions.
'Cheat-a-thon' contest explores AI’s strengths and flaws in higher education
Penn State’s Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence (CSRAI) will host a virtual "Cheat-a-thon" competition March 3-April 6. The event, open to faculty and students across the U.S., explores the use of generative AI in academic environments.
Q&A: Can AI be governed by an ‘equity by design’ framework?
Approaches to regulating artificial intelligence (AI), from creation to deployment and use in practice, vary internationally. Daryl Lim, CSRAI Affiliate, Penn State Dickinson Law associate dean for research and innovation, H. Laddie Montague Jr. Chair in Law and Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS) co-hire, has proposed an “equity by design” framework to better govern the technology and protect marginalized communities from potential harm in an article published on Jan. 27 in the Duke Technology Law Review. Lim spoke about AI governance and his proposed framework in the following Q&A on Penn State News.